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 | Press Release |
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News With the help of generous volunteers and partner agencies, we just completed several rounds of training. Classes met around the state and emphasized diverse topics, all centered on safe and effective response to animal-care emergencies. Our improved skills should be valuable not only in rare disasters but also in routines at local pounds and shelters. During the next month or so, we are planning events to further sharpen skills, get reacquainted, attract new volunteers, and generally improve emergency preparedness. At the same time we can work to prevent disasters and minimize their consequences. So please sign up and spread the word of these special RIDART opportunities Check below for dates and details, which will be posted as soon as they are avialable. |
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TODAY !!!
• SHELTER MGMT TEAMS
6:00pm-9:00pm Orientation, training, and dinner for RIDART members who have been selected to serve on the two State Shelter Management Teams. In the Banquet Room of Chelo's, on the Post Road, just South of the Green Airport entrance, in Warwick. By invitation only. MAP
Links
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Welcome to www.RIDART.org – the team's on-line home!
The Rhode Island Disaster Animal Response Team (RIDART) is a public/private/volunteer partnership to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies affecting animals in Rhode Island. Those animals include large and small domestic animals as well as wildlife. The emergencies they could face range from storms or floods to fires and oil spills.
The team is composed of volunteers who work under the direction of the RI State Veterinarian. Training – free to team members – emphasizes safe handling of animals, pet first aid, effective rescuing, sheltering, and reuniting pets with their owners. The team helps assure that Rhode Islanders are as ready as possible to make the best of bad situations.
Applications are welcome from everyone. No matter what your level of experience or expertise, RIDART can help you make a difference.
Supporters of RIDART include:
- American Humane Association (AHA)
- American Kennel Association (AKA)
- American Red Cross, RI Chapter (ARC)
- Animal Rescue League of Southern Rhode Island (ARLSRI)
- Audubon Society of RI (ASRI)
- Brown University
- Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
- Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL)
- Officer of the Governor of the State of RI
- Potter League for Animals
- Providence Animal Rescue League (PARL)
- RI Animal Control Officers Association
- RI Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM)
- RI Emergency Management Agency (RI EMA)
- RI Farm Bureau (RIFB)
- RI Federation of Riding Clubs (RIFRC)
- RI Hospital
- RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA)
- RI Veterinary Medical Association (RIVMA)
- RI Veterinary Technician Association (RIVTA)
- Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ)
- Save the Bay
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- University of Rhode Island (URI)
- Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA)
- Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of RI (WRARI)
- Plus veterinary clinicians and hospitals, government officials, emergency managers, animal control officers, and shelter managers and staff in cities and towns as well as volunteers throughout Rhode Island
RIDART welcomes volunteers of many kinds. In an emergency, people with animal-care expertise are essential, but so is an even larger number of people with varied skills. Readiness and response are truly team efforts.
Only a a little screening, coordination, and specialized training are required. In particular, all volunteers must gain certification in ICS and NIMS (the Incident Command and National Incident Management Systems).
FEMA makes that certification available for free through on-line independent study. The courses are called "IS-100" and "IS-700." To get started, just click on Independent Study (IS-100 and IS-700) here or in the list of Links to the left.
Volunteers must also complete an application, which includes agreeing to a background check, and a pledge to adhere to the RIDART Code of Conduct.
These forms are avialable on-line:
download THIS Adobe PDF file for the Application
download THIS Adobe PDF file for the Conduct Pledge
Contact RIDART
Completed Applications and Conduct Pledges should be addressed to RIDART
You are welcome to send comments or questions to RIDART through the e-mail connection below. Thank you!
c/o Division of Agriculture, RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908-5767
